Red or Green?
When you arrive at the checkpoint, you are required to declare fully and correctly all dutiable, controlled or prohibited items that you are carrying at the Red Channel. All such goods and their import license or authorization where applicable, should be produced to the checkpoint officers at the entry point for examination. Making a false or an incorrect declaration is an offence under the law.

Travellers found with the above goods at the GreenChannel will be subject to enforcement action which may include fines or prosecution action.

Note: Your baggage may be examined by the checkpoint officers whether you take the Red or Green Channel.

Dutiable Goods
The import of dutiable goods is subject to the payment of duties and the Goods & Services Tax whilst the import of all other goods is subject only to the payment of the Goods & Services Tax.

The dutiable items are intoxicating liquors, cigarettes and other tobacco products, motor vehicles including motor cycles/scooters and petroleum products. You can find the complete list of dutiable goods and their tax rates at the Singapore Customs website.

Duty Free Allowance
Bona fide travellers are entitled to duty-free allowance for spirits, wine and beer only if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) You are 18 years old or above;
(b) You have spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore immediately before your arrival;
(c) You have not arrived from Malaysia;
(d) The liquors are for your own consumption; and
(e) The liquors are not prohibited under section 38 of the Customs Act.

You will given one of the options below:

Duty Free Allowance

Option

Spirits

Wine

Beer

A

1 Litre

1 Litre

1 Litre

B

-

2 Litre

1 Litre

C

-

1 Litre

2 Litre

There is NO GST RELIEF AND DUTY-FREE CONCESSION ON CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS. Please declare them at the Red Channel for payment of duty and GST. For more information on other Duty-Free Concessions, please visit the Singapore Customs website.

GST Relief
If you are a bona fide traveler* you will be given GST relief on new articles, souvenirs, gifts and food preparations (excluding intoxicating liquors and tobacco) up to the following values, depending on the number of hours you have spent outside of Singapore immediately before your arrival, as specified in the table below:

GST Relief

Period Away From Singapore

Value of Goods

48 hours or more

$600

Less than 48 hours

$150

If the value of your goods exceeds the stipulated limits, please declare them at the Red Channel. Goods exceeding your GST relief may be brought in only on payment of GST at the Customs Office. To facilitate payment, please produce your receipts and invoices to the officer.

*Not applicable to holders of a work permit, employment pass, student pass, dependent pass or long-term pass issued by the Singapore Government

CurrencyAny person entering or leaving Singapore with physical currency or bearer negotiable instruments (CBNI)* that has a total value exceeding SGD 20,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) is required to fill up the Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Report (Traveller) or NP727 form .

The Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Report (Traveller) form is available at:

Singapore checkpoints

Police establishments

Completed forms are to be submitted at the Customs Red Channel on arrival in Singapore, and at the immigration counters on departure from Singapore.

THIS IS NOT A CURRENCY CONTROL MEASURE

There are no restrictions to the type or amount of CBNI which may be moved into or out of Singapore. This measure only requires a report to be made when the total value of the CBNI being moved exceeds the equivalent of SGD 20,000. It does not seek to restrict legitimate cross border trade payments for goods and services, or the freedom of capital movements.

Controlled Goods
The items listed below require an import license or authorization from the relevant controlling authorities for their entry into Singapore. This list is non-exhaustive on the controlled items permitted for import into Singapore. For more details please visit the respective websites below:

Item

Controlling Authority

Animals, birds and their by-products
Plants
Endangered species of wildlife
Ornamental fish
Meat and meat products
Fish and seafood products
Fruits and vegetables

Please produce the import license or authorization from the relevant controlling authorities at the Red Channel when seeking entry for the controlled item. If you do not have the import license or authorization, checkpoint officers will retain the item and refer it to the relevant authority for approval. A Warehouse Deposit Receipt will be issued to you to claim the item from the authority concerned.

If you need to take medicines which may only be obtained through prescription under the Singapore laws, especially sleeping pills, depressants, stimulants, etc, please carry with you a prescription from a physician confirming that these medicines are required for your physical well-being. There are severe penalties for the illegal possession of such medicines.